Here's why an e-collar or a dog cone is so important. Also known as an Elizabethan collar, it is a flexible piece of plastic shaped into a cone that is placed around your dogโs neck. Despite feeling uncomfortable when worn, the cone will ensure that your dog doesnโt lick or cause any further damage to its stitches. This helps to shorten your dogโs recovery time and prevents infection from setting in, especially due to excessive licking.